Animat Test

By Alan H. Goldstein

Because of nanobiotechnology, we have never been closer to a Grey Goo
scenario  although the actual color will more likely be green or
red.
Because biomolecules learned self-assembly through billions of years of
evolution, nanobiotechnology has a tremendous advantage when it comes
to applying this particular strategy to create artificial
life.

In fact, we have put into motion research that will create every
component necessary to build an animat. One formula is as simple as A +
B + C.

A = Nanobiotechnology devices that can survive and function inside
human beings. Many therapeutic devices in development for drug
delivery, cancer therapy, etc., are designed to survive in the
physicochemical environment of the body.

B = Nanobiotechnology devices that can derive energy from biological
metabolism. Many nanomedical devices will be powered by the fuel
available inside the human body. A common idea is to take our own
glucose-oxidizing enzymes and use them as a fuel cell for the
nanobiobot.

Which creates a completely realistic animat formula. A + B + C = a
self-replicating nanobiobot capable of living inside the human body
powered by our own metabolic energy.

Of course, scientists are not intentionally putting A together with B
and C. No one is trying to create the first true animat  they’re
just
working on rudimentary forms of artificial life or synthetic biology.
But if, as part of this benign research initiative, they happen to
create nanobiobots some of which have traits A or B or C  our
definition
of life will have changed forever.

Does this mean we will immediately cease to be human? Probably not. The
most probable scenario is that an array of proto-animats will be
carried as an evolutionary adaptation that enhances biological function
for generations before any of them become an essential part of our
phenotype. After that…

If the animat test described here is not sufficient, let it stand as a
challenge for the development of a completely rigorous test for the
unequivocal identification of nonbiological life forms.

The larger
point is that humanity must initiate a search-and-test protocol now in
order to prepare for the arrival of the literal alien from within.